The population of the Netherlands grew by an estimated 100,000 last year, with immigration from other European countries accounting for much of the increase, according to new figures from national statistics office CBS.

In total, 241,000 people moved to the Netherlands from abroad and 153,000 left. European nationals accounted for over 45,000 of the net increase, with the size of the Polish community expanding by 9,000 to the end of November.

Indians accounted for the second largest group of new arrivals, particularly in Amsterdam, Amstelveen and Eindhoven, but the increase – 6,000 – is below that recorded in 2017. Overall, the number of immigrants from Asia fell by nearly 8,000, compared with 2017, due largely to the drop in refugees from Syria.

Some 12,000 people moved to the Netherlands from America, a rise of 3,000 on 2017.

Cities

The population of the Netherlands has now reached 17.3 million people, with more people moving to four big cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague and Utrecht. Amsterdam grew the most, by over 10,000, while The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht grew by between 6,200 and 5,000.

The population shrank in 74 of the 380 Dutch local authority areas, mainly in Groningen, Friesland and Limburg. This was largely due to the aging population, the CBS said.

The birth rate last year outstripped the death rate by 16,000, continuing the downward trend. In 2010, women had on average 1.8 children but this had fallen to 1.6 million by last year.